(Telegraph) – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has taunted the US and Israel saying his enemies ‘don’t have the courage’ to attack Iran.

Speaking during a visit to Brazil, he insisted an attack on Iran over its suspected covert nuclear programme was no longer a possibility “even for mentally challenged people”.

“The age of military attacks is over, now we’ve reached the time for dialogue and understanding. Weapons and threats are a thing of the past,” he said.

He added, with a smile: “Those you mention [Israel and the US] don’t have the courage to attack Iran. They’re not even thinking about it.”

He was speaking on Monday night alongside President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the end of his visit to the capital Brasilia.

Mr Ahmadinejad’s arrival in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday was greeted by a 1,000-strong rally of members of Jewish, anti-racist and homosexual rights groups who protested his past tirades against Israel and other groups.

During the joint press conference with Mr da Silva, a protester quietly waved a gay-rights banner in the crowd before police escorted him from the venue.

Mr Ahmadinejad met for three hours with “Lula” to discuss Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, over which the Brazilian leader urged Tehran to find a “just solution” with Western powers.

Mr Ahmadinejad was to depart for Bolivia for talks with his counterpart Evo Morales, then on to Venezuela to see his “friend”, President Hugo Chavez.